Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Downplays IAEA Resolution

Iran's Acting Foreign Minister has downplayed the recent IAEA Board of Governors resolution censuring Iran, stating that issuing resolutions has no impact on Iran's "determination" to develop its nuclear projects.

Ali Bagheri made the remarks at the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Monday following an announcement last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors to pass a resolution censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation with nuclear inspections. It said Iran had failed to address questions about undisclosed nuclear activities. The resolution, backed by Western powers, calls on Iran to provide access to sites and information necessary for verifying its nuclear program.

During his Monday speech, Bagheri also accused the US of using dollar dependence as a weapon and claimed that Iran will not allow regional stability and security to be disrupted by what he termed "occupying aggressors."

"We will continue our cooperation with the Agency within the framework of our rights and obligations under the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and the Safeguards Agreement," he added, raising concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. Just weeks ago, the UN's nuclear chief said Iran was "weeks not months" away from a nuclear weapon as its enrichment levels had been found to exceed the international limits.